WHEN YOU FEEL AS IF SOMETHING IS BREATHING OR LOCALIZED PAIN AROUND YOUR OVARIES
Some women experience a strange sensation around the waist or lower back during their cycle. While this feeling can be caused by many harmless reasons—such as muscle tension, hormonal changes, or nerve sensitivity—it is not a proven sign of having many immature eggs or of developing follicular cysts/PCOS. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) has specific symptoms such as irregular periods, acne, excessive hair growth, weight changes, and difficulty ovulating. It cannot be diagnosed based on sensations alone. If you are experiencing unusual or persistent sensations—especially while taking fertility-related medication—you should not stop the medication on your own. Instead, consult a healthcare professional for proper evaluation, hormone tests, or an ultrasound to determine the actual cause and the right treatment.
FAILED IVF: WHEN SEMEN QUALITY IS CLAIMED TO BE THE CAUSE
When IVF fails and the issue appears to be sperm-related, patients often ask why the clinic did not cancel the procedure if the sperm was “not good enough.” It is important to understand that semen analysis and sperm function tests are different. A semen analysis only measures sperm count, motility, morphology, and pH. It is not a fertility test; rather, it assesses the testicles’ ability to produce sperm of reasonable quality. However, it cannot reliably determine a sperm cell’s fertilization potential. Patients sometimes ask why they are not sent for a sperm function test instead. The reason is that not all centres have the technology to perform sperm function tests. In many cases, we only discover problems with sperm fertilization ability when we observe poor embryo development after IVF, despite having a good egg and an apparently normal semen analysis. For a sperm cell to fertilize an egg—whether naturally, through IUI, or through IVF—it must successfully complete five key processes: 1. Capacitation – occurs inside the female reproductive tract; it cannot be evaluated directly. 2. Acrosome Reaction – the sperm’s ability to bind to the egg’s outer layer; this requires advanced technology to assess. 3. Zona Pellucida Binding – when enzymes in the sperm head are released, allowing it to penetrate the egg. 4. Nuclear Decondensation – the genetic material of the egg and sperm combine to form a fertilized ovum. 5. (Implied final step) Successful formation of a healthy embryo. Because semen analysis cannot evaluate these functional steps, a sperm sample may appear normal yet still fail to fertilize an egg.
FOLIC ACID IS NOT A FERTILITY SUPPLEMENT
Folic acid is one of the most common medications taken by women hoping to conceive, but it is not a fertility supplement. Its main role is to support red blood cell formation in the mother and to help prevent brain and spinal cord defects in the baby. Women who are trying to conceive should understand that folic acid alone does not correct hormonal problems, trigger ovulation, improve overall fertility, or unblock fallopian tubes. It is important to consult a professional and undergo the appropriate tests—such as AMH, FSH, LH, progesterone, and estradiol—so that the right treatment plan can be created for you. Folic acid can then be added as part of your overall pre-conception care.